In this instalment of Drive Time John Murdoch gets behind the wheel of the Suzuki Swift supermini and finds that it offers a great blend of style, comfort, space and economy. John also reveals that Japanese giant Toyota is planning to make changes to its Yaris range for 2025.
SUZUKI has a talent for producing small cars that have lots to offer and are excellent value for money.
The Swift supermini has been a leader for the company for 40 years and when the fourth generation model arrived earlier this year it took the model up a notch.
With its combination of stylish looks, great fuel economy and improved tech it is filling a gap in the market left by some brands that have pulled out of the combustion engined small car market to chase electric sales.
Many motorists do not want to switch to electric power and that is where the Swift scores thanks to its frugal 1.2-litre mild hybrid powerplant.
The new Swift is the same size as the model it replaced and is available in a simple two-trim line-up of Motion and Ultra grades.
I sampled it in the top Ultra trim and with the CVT automatic gearbox at a cost of £21,549 and £600 more for the Frontier Blue Pearl Metallic paint.
The CVT transmission is a popular choice as younger drivers opt for automatics and Suzuki expects 35 per cent of Swifts to be sold with the automatic gearbox.
Under the bonnet, the three-cylinder mild hybrid unit offers better fuel efficiency than before with an official Combined return of 60.1 mpg and CO2 emissions of 106g/km for the CVT. I had no trouble achieving that figure without really trying and on longer runs you could achieve up to 70mpg.
Still instantly recognisable as a Swift, the new car has blacked out pillars, L-shaped signature lamps, piano-black front grille and a wider rear bumper design.
The cabin is now very modern and boasts comfortable seats and a nine-inch infotainment display while standard kit tops most rivals and includes the likes of 16-inch alloys, sat nav, rear view camera, keyless entry and start, LED headlamps and a wireless smartphone link audio display.
The Swift boasts lots of safety features including a blind spot monitor, lane departure warning plus weaving alert, a driver monitoring system, rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control and upgraded brake support.
The Swift has always been fun to drive and that is still the case with front wheel drive and the efficient CVT gearbox. It feels well planted on motorways and is great fun on country roads with sweeping and tight bends.
This model has a more solid and premium feel to it than the car it replaced and although it is not flashy and full of soft touch-materials, the cabin feels like it is built to last.
It always feels willing and quicker than the 0-62 in 11.9 seconds figure suggests before going on to a top speed of 106mph, while the three-pot engine delivers a nice throaty note.
The boot is not huge at 265 litres of space but the rear seats can be folded to allow for bigger loads.
Suzuki Connect connected services are offered free of charge for three years from the vehicle registration date and a Service Activated Warranty is also offered free after the manufacturer warranty expires and until the car reaches seven years/100,000 miles.
The Swift has clocked millions of sales in more than 100 countries since its introduction and the current model will certainly add to that tally thanks to its blend of looks, economy, equipment and comfortable roomy cabin.
FAST FACTS
Suzuki Swift Mild Hybrid Ultra CVT
Price: £21,549
Mechanical: 1,197cc, three cylinder petrol engine driving front wheels via CVT gearbox
Max speed: 106mph
0-62mph: 11.9 seconds
Combined mpg: 60.1
Insurance group: 28
CO2 emissions: 106g/km
BiK rating: 24%
Warranty: 7yrs/100,000 miles
Overall rating (out of 5): 4.5
UPGRADES FOR TOYOTA YARIS
The popular Toyota Yaris supermini is getting improvements for 2025 with new colours and options being added to the range.
Since its launch in 1999, the car has accumulated more than 10 million global sales, including more than five million in Europe and become known for offering ‘big car’ features in a small model.
The latest version will have new options and an update to the Yaris GR Sport grade.
A new colour, Storm Grey, is available exclusively on the 2025 Yaris GR Sport, both in monotone and bi-tone finishes. The model also offers new-design 18-inch matt-finish alloy wheels.
The interior execution – with red stitching and gun metal grey accents – introduces an embossed GR Sport logo on the headrests.
The 2025 Yaris line-up includes a new Forest Green colour, again available as a monotone finish or striking bi-tone combination with a contrasting black roof.
The Yaris 2025 range continues to employ a “dual hybrid” approach to meet customers’ needs with 114bhp and 129bhp versions of the 1.5-litre hybrid system.
The latest generation of the Toyota Safety Sense driver assistance systems make the car safer, easier to drive and park. Meanwhile, the digital dimension includes a customisable driver’s instrument display and a powerful multimedia system with display screens of up to 10.5 inches.
Production of the 2025 Yaris will commence in February. Details of the UK range, pricing and specifications will be confirmed shortly. The current range is priced from £22,640 with the GR Sport starting from £29,115.
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